Music

Education:
Doctorate of Musical Arts, University of Cincinnati College, Conservatory of Music, 2006
Master of Music, University of Missouri, Kansas City Conservatory of Music, 1999
Bachelor of Music, University of Missouri, Kansas City Conservatory of Music, 1997

Biography:

Dr. Kristín Jónína Taylor is an Icelandic-American pianist who has been enthusiastically received for her performances of Nordic piano works, including the North American premiere of Jón Nordal’s Piano Concerto in 2003 and programs by invitation in Washington D.C. for the Ambassador of Iceland and President Vigdís Finnbogadóttir. She has performed widely in the U.S. as well as in Iceland, France, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Sweden, Austria, and Serbia.

As a foreign student in Iceland when she was 16, Kristín studied piano with Halldór Haraldsson. At the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, her mentors were Joanne Baker and Richard Cass. In June of 2006, Kristín received the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where she studied with Eugene and Elizabeth Pridonoff. She has also studied in Europe with Diane Andersen, Daniel Blumenthal, Jacques Lagarde, Perfecto Garcia Chornet, Vit Gregor, and Einar-Steen Nokleberg.

Dr. Taylor was the Grand Prize Winner of the Naftzger Young Artist Competition and a national finalist in the Music Teacher’s National Association Young Chang Collegiate Competition. In 2003 she was invited to give a performance at the Classical Hall of Fame in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was a soloist with several orchestras that gave a performance of an all-Schumann program at the internationally prestigious Reykjavík Arts Festival.

Kristín was the recipient of a Fulbright grant to Iceland in 2004-2005 to conduct research for her doctoral thesis on Jón Nordal ’s Piano Concerto. She received another Fulbright Scholar grant award to Iceland for the Fall of 2010 to research the music of Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson. In addition, her debut CD recording The Well-Tempered Pianist: The solo piano works of Thorkell Sigurbjörnsson was released by the Iceland Music Information Centre in November 2010. Her second album, which is self-titled, was released by Pólarfónía Records in March 2011. Her third album, Thorkell Sigurbjörnsson: Short Stories for Flute and Piano, will be released by Smekkleysa Records in September 2013.

Dr. Taylor is an Associate Professor of Piano and Keyboard Area Coordinator at Waldorf College. She is also the coordinator for the Waldorf Community Artist Series and faculty advisor to the Zeta Lambda Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon Professional Music Fraternity.

Kristín Jónína Taylor is a Steinway Artist.

Other positions:
Keyboard Area Coordinator
Music History Area Coordinator
Waldorf Community Artist Series Coordinator
Recital Coordinator

Teaching Philosophy:
In conversations I’ve had with our current students, there are several factors that students name as to why they chose Waldorf. Many remark on how this place feels like “home.” Several of them cannot imagine attending any other college. There are observations that include how our professors are approachable, willing to help, and student-centered. Our students have been accepted into master’s and doctoral level musical institutions throughout the United States.

The music department at Waldorf College is an exceptional place. Our faculty is of the utmost quality. We encourage our students to accomplish higher achievements than they thought possible. There are many opportunities we offer our students that they would not find elsewhere in comparable institutions. Additionally, our All-Steinway School status here at Waldorf allows our students to practice and perform on pianos that are of a high quality. Furthermore, our annual piano camp offers much practical training for our students.

My teaching philosophy is simple: My studio is open, non-judgmental, and encouraging. Most importantly, I have a strong belief in the student’s potential. At Waldorf, there will be a strong emphasis on the practical elements of being a pianist, but moreover, elements of music history, music theory, as well as the philosophical/aesthetic are incorporated into the lessons.